1200 words
There’s a saying that goes ‘there’s no place like home’, and for Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel, it’s certainly not the case when it comes to bowling on home soil. Patel has had a remarkable career in Test cricket for New Zealand, picking up 62 wickets in 19 matches since his debut in 2018. But remarkably, he has yet to take a single wicket at home in New Zealand.
It is a stat that should not be forgotten when talking about Patel’s success, as it highlights just how tough the conditions are in New Zealand for spin bowlers. Patel has tasted success on the international stage, picking up crucial wickets in tight games away from home. But he has yet to replicate that success back home, with the wickets not coming as easy as they do elsewhere.
This could be due to the fact that the conditions at home are more suited to the fast bowlers, as the wickets are often harder and bouncier. This makes it difficult for spinners to get any purchase from the surface, and Patel has found this out the hard way. The conditions also make it difficult for spinners to get any turn from the pitch, making it tough to get wickets in home games.
But Patel should not be disheartened by this stat, and instead use it as motivation to do better. He is a quality spinner, and his ability to pick up wickets in difficult conditions away from home should give him the confidence to do the same at home. Patel also has the experience and the skill to be successful at home, and he should use this as an opportunity to prove himself as a quality spinner.
It is also worth noting that Patel is not the only one who has yet to take a wicket at home. Other spinners such as Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Anil Kumble also went through similar periods of time without taking a wicket at home. But both of these spinners went on to become greats of the game, and Patel could follow in their footsteps if given the opportunity.
Overall, Patel should take this stat in his stride and use it as motivation to do better at home. He is a quality spinner, and with a bit of hard work and dedication, he could be just as successful in home matches as he is in away matches. Patel is a fighter, and he should use this as an opportunity to prove himself as one of New Zealand’s premier spinners.
900 words
There’s a saying that goes ‘there’s no place like home’, and for Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel, it’s certainly not the case when it comes to bowling on home soil. Patel has had a remarkable career in Test cricket for New Zealand, picking up 62 wickets in 19 matches since his debut in 2018. But remarkably, he has yet to take a single wicket at home in New Zealand.
It is a stat that should not be forgotten when talking about Patel’s success, as it highlights just how tough the conditions are in New Zealand for spin bowlers. Patel has tasted success on the international stage, picking up crucial wickets in tight games away from home. But he has yet to replicate that success back home, with the wickets not coming as easy as they do elsewhere.
This could be due to the fact that the conditions at home are more suited to the fast bowlers, as the wickets are often harder and bouncier. This makes it difficult for spinners to get any purchase from the surface, and Patel has found this out the hard way. The conditions also make it difficult for spinners to get any turn from the pitch, making it tough to get wickets in home games.
But Patel should not be disheartened by this stat, and instead use it as motivation to do better. He is a quality spinner, and his ability to pick up wickets in difficult conditions away from home should give him the confidence to do the same at home. Patel also has the experience and the skill to be successful at home, and he should use this as an opportunity to prove himself as a quality spinner.
It is also worth noting that Patel is not the only one who has yet to
